Presbyter
Priest Mikhail Cheltsov was born on May 27, 1870, in the village of Kikino, Ryazhsky district of Ryazan province. He graduated from the Ryazan Theological Seminary and entered the Kazan Theological Academy, where he became an active missionary. In 1894, he taught at the Kaluga Seminary, where he preached the Orthodox faith and held discussions with dissenters. In 1903, he was ordained a priest and became the rector of the home church of the Holy Martyr Simeon at the Institute of Civil Engineers. He actively participated in church and public life, was the editor of the journal 'Orthodox Guide' and a member of the diocesan missionary council. In 1917, he became the chairman of the 'Council of the Union of Lawmakers', continuing the struggle for the teaching of the Law of God in schools.
After the revolution, Priest Mikhail was repeatedly arrested, including for the 'case of resistance to the seizure of church valuables'. He was sentenced to death, but at the last moment, the sentence was commuted to imprisonment. After being released in 1925, he became the rector of the Church of Archangel Michael and continued teaching at the Higher Theological Courses.
In 1930, he was arrested for the sixth time and shot on January 7, 1931, on the day of the Nativity of Christ. His life was full of suffering and service to God, leaving a mark on the souls of many people.
